The Life of Floss: Between Use and Waste
Presented by ohGiGi®
DETAILS
Free, no booking required
Friends Of The Earth Food Co-Op & Cafe
312 Smith St, Collingwood VIC, Australia
DATES
Fri 22 May 9.30am – 5pm
Fri 22 May 4 – 4.45pmBook now
Opening conversation
Sat 23 May 9.30am – 5pm
Sun 24 May 10am – 4.30pm
The Life of Floss: Between Use and Waste explores dental floss as an everyday object rarely questioned. Used briefly and then discarded, floss is part of daily oral care, yet is seldom considered beyond its function.
This installation reframes floss as material rather than mere utility. Through a simple study, it highlights the physical qualities required for floss to function – strength, flexibility and durability – while questioning the material choices that make these properties possible.
What must a material do to become floss? And how might those requirements be met differently, for both the planet and the body?
Accompanied by visual research into material alternatives and a short film outlining the inquiry, this installation invites reflection on how even the smallest everyday object might be redesigned for more responsible and health-conscious futures.
An in-store conversation on the opening evening invites discussion around material innovation and the future of oral care.
Participants
Karen Tan
Karen Tan is the founder of a Melbourne/Naarm-based oral care brand ohGiGi®, crafting healthier and more sustainable alternatives to everyday oral care products. Her work explores the intersection of oral health, material innovation and environmental responsibility, examining how the materials and ingredients behind our daily rituals might be redesigned to support both planet and body.